The Amazing John Force

          Your loyal blogger is uncertain whether motor racing fans fully appreciate what we are witnessing from drag racing icon John Force.

          He clinched his 16^th National Hot Rod Association Funny Car championship this week with one race still to go on the 2013 schedule. But the championships and race wins, while tremendous, are not the story.

          The story is one of ageless enthusiasm, of dogged determination and of family. Force’s massive popularity stems, it says here, from his old fashioned, heart-on-the-sleeve love of drag racing.

          Force has never met a fan he didn’t like and has never stiffed a request for an autograph. He’s posed for more photographs than any 20 beauty contestants you can name and his smile is more genuine.

          Media? Sure, he has time for them. John Force has done more interviews than most US presidents and he is more popular than any president you can name. Come to think of it, Force has accomplished more than most presidents, too. This guy so earnest in his desire to spread the gospel of drag racing that he is believable.

Who doesn’t believe John Force?

 Heck, who doesn’t believe in John Force? He has more championships than NASCAR legends Richard Petty and Dale Earnhart, combined. He has more major race wins than anyone I can think of, except Petty. And, at 64, Force has just won another title.

Most team owners are younger than Force but he’s still beating the young drivers.

Three of Force’s daughters, Ashley Force-Hood, Brittany Force and Courtney Force, are racers. Ashley is not racing now, having started a family. But Ashley and Courtney have beaten their Dad in a final round race and it is pretty obvious that the talent apple did not fall far from the Christmas tree, if you catch the drift.

Brittney does not compete directly with John and Courtney, as Brittney drives a Top Fuel car.

Force’s son-in-law, Robert Hight, also drives a Force Funny Car.

John Force is the kind of racer we may not see the likes of again. I suggest we take a step back and appreciate everything he does while he is still doing it.

          Thanks for reading.